Garlic Breath: What Works

Forget about parsley. No need to chew fennel seeds. Science suggests that the most effective way to neutralize the “odiferous sulfur compounds” in a food like garlic is to use a mouthwash with chlorine dioxide or zinc, like Tom’s of Maine and ProFresh. (For simple halitosis, look for chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride in your mouthwash.) For more science applied to everyday life — including the mathematical formula for figuring out if you can get a sofa around a corner — read Better Living Through Science: The Basic Scientific Principles You Need to Solve Every Household Conundrum (Rodale, $15.99).